Sacked NFF Boss, Sani Lulu Slams Amaechi, Adeniyi Over Eagles’ Bonus Row Former President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Sani Lulu Abdullahi has accused the Governor Rotimi Amaechi-led Presidential Task Force of acting in bad fate in the incidence leading to the increment of Super Eagles players’ bonus from $5,000 to $10,000. Lulu who was reacting to statement credited to a member of the body, Segun Adeniyi said the PTF which was established to primarily raise money and support the inadequately funded NFF to full prosecute its qualification and preparation at the Africa Nations Cup and the World Cup proper, but the PTF acted otherwise. The former FCT Director of Sports said “I have invited you to enable me clarify the subject “The Super Eagles $10,000 Winning Bonus” as credited to Mr. Adeniyi Segun, who was a member of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on Nigeria’s Qualification for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. You will recall that when I was elected to serve the NFF as its President in August 2006, we inherited an empty treasury, with a highly demoralized and weakened National Teams, with prevailing demand for upward review of the existing $5,000 winning bonus. My led Board worked so hard to sustain the situation pacifying and appealing to the players to accept our settlement within available resources. However, the Federal Government in its wisdom, graciously established a Presidential Task Force in 2009, primarily to raise funds and support the inadequately funded NFF to fully prosecute its qualification, preparation and participation at the African Nation Cup and World Cup competition in 2010 to give the desired platform for Historic celebration of our 50th Independence Anniversary in October, 2010. “The motive of Government in the establishment of Presidential Task Force (PTF) was given due commendation by all patriotic citizen. Unfortunately the leadership of PTF had no clear vision and understanding of Government purposeful concept of giving the best to the Nation. It is a known fact that the Chairman of PTF (Governor Rotimi Amaechi) immediately after inauguration announced the increase from $5,000 to $10,000 winning bonus to players, without considering the long term effect”. Continuing, Lulu said “Consequently, the NFF, wrote the PTF reviewing its Budget for the 2 main Tournaments in 2010 (i.e. the African Nation Cup in Angola and FIFA world cup in South Africa) to a total sum of about N2.22 Billion as against N1.51 Billion as contain in the approved 2010 Budget i.e. an increase of a N710,000,000 resulting principally from the Bonus increment. In fact Governor Rotimi Ameachi had promised as the PTF chairman that funds will be made available before we get to financially critical quarter final stage of the Nation Cup. Unfortunately PTF was fully represented at the Tournament without financial support from the PTF, but the focused NFF, had to sustain the payments of the increase bonuses up to winning the Bronze Medals”. Despite all these frustrations, we made concerted efforts to ensure that we were properly funded by the relevant bodies, particularly the PTF, but all to no avail. Let me cite some of our correspondences with PTF as follows: - i. The NFF chartered a plane for our last qualifying match in Kenya in November, 2009 at a sum of N32,000,000 as against the expected sum of a N93 million by PTF. ii. NFF officially requested for the debt settlement of a N220 million being amount due for payment by PTF as a result of increase winning bonuses already paid to the Team at the Nation Cup. iii. NFF officially requested for additional budget in the Total sum of a N97 million and $2.89 million to cater for New Technical Adviser to Super Eagles (Las Lagerback). Surprisingly, the PTF managed to settle only the salaries of $1,300,000.00. From the forgoing, I insist and challenge Mr. Segun Adeniyi to substantiate with proof of evidence the payment of PTF due of the 50% winning bonus due to Super Eagles in 2010. It’s very clear from post Tournament activities that PTF realized substantial sum from fund raising as supported by Government, but the NFF was not supported in line with Government aspirations and directive and we witnessed sadly as these funds were lately utilized for construction of the New NFF headquarters which plan was earlier initiated, designed and ready for construction with our available sum of $1,400,000 in FIFA account. I will also want to refute the allegation that the PTF initiated and approved above project on 29/06/2010. As a President of NFF then, it is expected that PTF cannot take decision without my brief as the end-user, and I say categorically that the entire NFF did not participate in this exercise. If however it is true that PTF granted approval, then Governor Rotimi Ameachi must explain why due process was not followed or could it be that my impeachment was concluded on this day about 4 days to the actual date of my publicly announced illegal or unlawful impeachment by those NFF EXCO members.
Posted on: Tue, 27 Aug 2013 08:41:39 +0000
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